Rons van Story 2 After my 84 Ford blew up in 2003 I found a 2000 safari wth a side lift, raised roof, handcontrols and swivel seat with 58,000 for 13,300. the girl i bought it from was paralyzed in an accident but to afraid to drive the van. I put an alpine stereo system in it, had a set of cragar wheels special made, loud exhaust, intake and a slick new paintjob at Maaco and I was the hit at the YMCA lol.I drove that van until 2012 and sold her on ebay for 7500.00 to a guy in a nursing home. the man just sent me the check sight unseen and I shipped it. From that van I learned I hated raised roofs because they leak and youcant see out as a passenger so I searched for a new beast with a price no more than 20,000. I found a 2007 Chevy Express full size with a 6 inch dropped floor throughout and a 2 inch body lift. The van was 3/4 ton 6,000 pounds and had a 6.0 litler V8 in her. Had power doors, swivel seat, hand controls and the best part 16,000 miles. Paid 19,500 for her shipped from Texas to St. louis, the guy even installed a remote start fo me in the deal. When the van arrived it was so tall I was a little intimidated, but Im doing ok with it. I called the handicap place that built it in texas and they told me it was special made for a veteran to drive and he died after he drove it to the hospital and his wife just traded it to a dealer. The handicap place was going to buy it off that lot the next day, but I found the ad on ebay first. For 20 grand its the most van I could have ever found. My next one will be a minivan, but i wanted to enjoy one more big, loud, noisey gas guzzler b4 I concede to a carlike van.
Ron c7 ________________________________ From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected]; [email protected] Cc: [email protected]; [email protected] Sent: Thu, March 14, 2013 1:39:06 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Fwd: [SCIC] Re: File - Buying an accessable van.doc ***************My 1st Van story************** Injured in 1973, settlement 1980 $250 thousand, bought a 1980 E-250 V-8 pose traction, raised roof, 5" power pan drop w/ hydraulic arm to lock me down, electric gear shift. Bench seat that dropped down to a bed, refrigerator, wet sink, totally set-up for camping … total cost $25 thousand! Got it in May took off with my sister in July 4th drove 10,000 miles cross country, 8 week trip … and WHAT a trip. Did cat changes & BP programs in tent or back of van. Met some AMAZING people along the way … I would do it all over any day of the week! Bobbie Smile Everyday -----Original Message----- From: Todd Daugherty <[email protected]> To: Danny Hearn <[email protected]> Cc: RONALD L PRACHT <[email protected]>; quad list <[email protected]> Sent: Thu, Mar 14, 2013 8:40 am Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Fwd: [SCIC] Re: File - Buying an accessable van.doc Here's my van story :) I was hurt in '89 and got about 70k total, so we used some to modify our basement, and also bought a minivan with side lift. After a few years of being driven around I had a swivel seat installed and hand controls. I drove that van to college, about a 6 hour drive and a few years after that drove on my own from Atlanta to Vegas for a 6 month therapy session. The engine died in Oklahoma City and I had to stay in the Bates motel until morning when I towed it to a dealership. A few grand and days later I was back on the road again. I started having lots of electrical issues with the lift and decided I wanted a car instead. After 10+ years of taking my chair apart and using a car I'm ready for a van again. Holy cow are they expensive, can't even afford a used one. Todd D C6 On Wed, Mar 13, 2013 at 11:01 PM, Danny Hearn <[email protected]> wrote: I have not driven since my accident......but I bought my 1st van for 500 bucks, it just needed a new gas tank put on it and a tune up, it had an old side crow river lift, that thing was a huge 8 passenger dodge extended length van, it got us by a few years..my wife made me nervous trying to navigate turns with that monster -lol . After that we got a 1995 chevy astro mini van with a raised roof and rear lift, that we have had for 9 years, it is still going so far...The price of new modified vans are unbelievable----a person has to win a lottery or be rich to buy one. Dan H.* From: RONALD L PRACHT <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wed, March 13, 2013 9:16:32 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Fwd: [SCIC] Re: File - Buying an accessable van.doc I was paralyzed in 98 and started driving about 2000 after alot of effort and help from a few others. My dad found a 84 Ford econoline van in a barn for $1500.00 bucks and we bought it. It had a dropped floor, old transfer seat and a set of rusted hand controls in the back. I got the state to install a new transfer seat, new monarch hand controls and a crescent remote system to operate the lift and power doors. I taught myself to drive it and rolled with it for four years, then on the way to the movies the oil light came on. The oil pump in the engine went out and it was to much to fix, so after pulling everything usable off of it we donated it to the blind. ron From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected]; [email protected] Sent: Wed, March 13, 2013 8:27:11 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Fwd: [SCIC] Re: File - Buying an accessable van.doc I had a power pan that lowered me down 5" in a 1980 Ford E 250 van but t also had a raised roof because I sat so tall in my chair. That was my first van. That thing weighed 2 TONS! It was a monster and ate gas lie it was going out of style. Bobbie Smile Everyday -----Original Message----- From: lwillis821 <[email protected]> To: quad-list <[email protected]> Sent: Mon, Mar 11, 2013 6:57 pm Subject: [QUAD-L] Fwd: [SCIC] Re: File - Buying an accessable van.doc I have a power pan instead of lowered floor. It takes me down about 5 in. It is in my 1979 E -150 that I bought new back in '79. I don't remember them doing lowered floors back in those days. Sent from my iPad Begin forwarded message: From: "dbqjohn" <[email protected]> Date: March 11, 2013, 4:13:23 PM EDT To: [email protected] Subject: [SCIC] Re: File - Buying an accessable van.doc Reply-To: [email protected] I'm just curious if anybody in the group drives a full size van from their wheelchair and does NOT have a lowered floor or raised top. If anyone does, I would like to know the make and model. I recall somebody talking about it a few years back. Thank you! John C5-6 quad since 1973 --- In [email protected], [email protected] wrote: > > > > File : Buying an accessable van.doc > Description : buying an accessable van > __._,_.___ Reply via web post Reply to sender Reply to group Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (28) Recent Activity: New Members 1 Visit Your Group Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use • Send us Feedback . __,_._,___
